Rail anchor device



Dec. 1, 1964 J. H. NEELY 3,159,347

RAIL ANCHOR DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.1

INVENTOR. John H. Nee/y HIS A TTOR/VE rs Dec. 1, 1964 J. H. NEELY 3,159,347

RAIL ANCHOR DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 John H. Nee/y mm w HIS ATTORNEYS F 3 INVENTOR.

Dec. 1, 1964 .1. H. NEELY 3,159,347

RAIL ANCHOR DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i l2 1/ l9 F i g. 5

H/S ATTORNEYS United 3,15%,34'7 RAIL ANCHUR DEVEUE .Fohn H. Neely, 4741i Lawnview Drive, Pittsburgh, Pa. Filed Feb. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 87,925 7 Claims. (ill. 238-4327) moving them which is of a forked or frog type, such as disclosed in the Blair Patent No. 2,217,040, and have been rather diflicult to mount and remove from the rail when repair and maintenance work is being done. in addition, they have not been too practical from the standpoint of the type of gripping action which has been effected on the rail.

It has thus been an object of my invention to devise an improved form of rail anchor which particularly facilitates its mounting operation and which, when in its fully mounted position, has an improved gripping and holding action with respect to the railroad rail;

Another object of my invention has been to develop a rail anchor that may be inserted by hand into ballast beneath the bottom flange of the rail and moved by hand from a first or preliminary to a second mounted position with respect to the rail, and which may then be moved into its third or final position by the application of a conventional sledge or. a spike-driving hammer;

A further object of my invention has been to meet unfavorable factors which have heretofore been encountered in the construction and utilization of rail anchors to provide a less expensive, more practical, more easily mounted and dismounted, and more efiicient type of construction;

These and other objects of my invention Will appear to those skilled in the art from the drawings and the description of a device constructed in accordance therewith.

In the drawings, FIGURE 1 is a transverse view in elevation through a rail showing a device of my invention in a fully-mounted, final, clamping-secured position with respect to a rail;

FIGURE 2 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 showing my device in its first hand-mounted or preliminary position with respect to the rail; FIGURE 3 is a similar view on the scale of FIGURES 1 and 2 showing the device in its second hand-mounted position with respect to the rail that is preliminary to its final position of FIGURE 1 which may be easily effected by the employement of aconventional hammer or sledge;

FIGURE 4 is a reduced fragmental top plan view of the construction of FIGURE 1 in the position of such figure; in this figure, it will be noted that a pair of my devices are shown in a close-abutting relation along their longitudinal side faces (transversely of the rail) with a he and in a fully clamped-on final position with respect to the bottom flange of the rail; and

FIGURE 5 is a side view in elevation on the scale of FIGURES 1 to 3 showing the device of my invention in its normal unflexed shape.

In carrying out my invention, I have provided a rail anchor having an elongated body 12 of substantially uniform section which may be produced by conventional forging or rolling of metal body stock. I prefer to use a forged and quenched body made from a steel which 3,15%,347 Patented ec. l, 196

has a good tensile strength, such as No. 1070 to 1080. The body 12 may be of rectangular cross-section and have a slightly greater horizontal than vertical or depth cross-sectional dimension. For example, it may have a horizontal dimension of A1 of an inch and a depth or vertical dimension of /3 of an inch, when employed with a rail 1t having a bottom flange 11 of a transverse extent or dimension of about 5 /2 inches, and with flange side end or edge portions and 11d of about of an inch in depth. The body 12 has a pair of opposed upwardly-extending clamping parts and a substantially straight-length arm or planar bottom portion 19 that is connected at its opposite ends by horizontally-outwardly offset, inwardly facing loop portions 16 and 2%) to lower ends of the clamping parts. In my construction, the loop portions 16 and 2b are employed or serve as opposite flexing axes for the body.

As customary, the rail 1%) is shown as having a base flange 11 whose top faces 11a and 11b decline outwardly from its web, are in an opposed relation with a horizontally-planar bottom or under face He and are connected thereto by substantially vertical side end or edge portions 110 and 11d. By way of example, the sectional thickness of the rail base flange 11 adjacent the Web may be about one inch, as compared to about of an inch at the side edge portions 110 and 11a, in a conventional 133 pound rail.

One (left) clamping part of the body 1 has a pro jecting, relatively short-length, inwardly-upwardly-inclined clamping foot portion 23 that inclines upwardly at a greater angle than the adjacent upper face portion 11b of the rail base flange and that, at its lower end, is connected to the loop portion 20. The loop portion 2%, at its ends, defines curved or rounded opposite contact shoulder portions or points 21 and 22 with the connected bottom length portion 19 and clamping foot portion 23. It Will be noted that the opposite contact shoulders 21 and 22 lie substantially on a vertical plane that is perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the base flange, as represented by its under face 11c when the rail anchor is in its final, securely-clamping position of FIGURE 1.

The opposite (right) clamping part of the anchor body 12 has an upwardly-outwardly projecting, relatively shortlength, upper clamping end portion 13 that is of slightly greater length than the clamping foot portion 23 and that has an outward-angular relation with a connecting, inwardly-upwardly-inclining guide-wedging portion 14. The end portion 13 may define anangle on its inner face of about 30 with-respect to the vertical or with respect to the edge face 110 of the rail 10 in the position of FIGURE 1. The guide-wedging-or camming portion 14 extends from the portion 13 into the outwardly-ofiset rounded or substantially semi-circular loop portion 16. It Will be noted that the guide-wedging portion 14 declines inwardly-upwardly from the loop portion 16, to as shown in FIGURE 3, provide an initial guide-contact with the side edge portion 11c of the rail base flange 11.

A substantially rectangular final latching recess, pocket or notch portion 15 is inwardly-olfset of the tool body 12 at the inner face of the integral angle-joint or connection between the portions 13 and 1d and defines an upper latching ledge portion 15a and an'opposite bottom latching ledge portion 15b of greater extent. For example, the ledge 15a may be of about of an inch in inward extent, while the ledge 15b may be about A of an inch. The construction and proportioning of the latch recess 15, such as shown in FIGURE 1, is such as to provide a substantially full abutting relation of substantially the bottom half of its back Wall with the side end or edge portion 110 of the base flange 11, and of its bottom ledge portion 1517 with the under face 11c. As shown, a wedge-shaped or up- 'Wardly-widened clearance spacing is defined between substantially the upper half of the side edge 11c and the op posed back wall of the latching notch portion 15, such that when the notch portion is snapped into position with respect to or on the rail base flange 11, the upper ledge face 15a makes a slight width of contact with the upper face 110. This facilitates the mounting and dismounting 'of the anchor device, but, at the same time, assures a positively'clamped-on holding action as to the rail base flange 11 when the opposed clamping parts of the rail anchor are flexibly spread about the axes of the loop por tions 16 and 20. I

An inner face 14a of the guide-wedging or camming portion 14 slopes inwardly-upwardly to provide a guide-Wedging surface for upward slight movement of the side edge portion 110 when the body 12 is being moved from its secondary position of FIGURE 3 to its final position of FIGURE 1, as by striking the portionIS outwardly with a sledge or hammer, see the direction of arrow B of FIG- URE 3. The rounded shoulder portion 16 defines an inner curved or semicircular slot or eyelet portion 16a within which the end portion 110 of the flange 11 is to be moved by hand to the preliminary position of FIGURE 2. In this connection, the distance between a bottom contact portion 21 of the body 12 and the greatest depth of the slot portion 16a is greater than the width extent of the flange 11 between its end portions 11c and 11d and may, for example, be in the neighborhood of six inches as compared to 5 Vz inches for the extent of the flange 11.

It will thus be seen that the tool body 12 can be easily inserted by hand over the flange 13; by moving it to the preliminary position of FIGURE 2, at which time, the

In FIGURE 5, inner points 17 and 18 represent vertically-opposed terminal points of the curvature of the offset, semi-circular slot or eyelet portion 16a. The distance from a vertical line through the points 1'7 and 18 to the contact point 21 is slightly less than the overall extent of the flange 11 when the device is in its normal non-ex- I panded shape of FIGURE 5, for example, about A or A;

.of an inch less.

This distance is such that the body 12 of the anchor device may be manually moved from its prelirninary position of FIGURE 2 to its secondary position of FIGURE 3, wherein the contact portions 21 and 22 have a preliminary engagement between the opposed faces 11a and lie of the rail base flange 11, and the inner wedge face 14a of the portion 14 has a preliminary wedging engagement with the side edge or end portion 110. This is accomplished by moving or sliding the body 12 longitudinally of its extent or transversely of the base flange 11, and

, tilting-lowering it slightly at its right-hand end about its left-hand end and with respect to the rail base flange 11. As shown, the loop (pivot axes) portions 16 and 29 are outwardly-oifset, provide rounded or somewhat semi-circular connections with thebottom lengthor arm portion 19, and define slot or eyelet portions 16a and 29a. It will be noted that the arm portion 19 is of substantially planar or straight construction and is adapted to slope downwardly from the loop portion 29 to-the loop portion 16 when the anchor device 12 is' in its final, fully-mounted,

secure clamping position of FIGURE 1. V

The inner face of the clamping foot portion 23 has a angularly-outwardly toward'its outer end with respect to.

the inclined face 11b. In FIGURE 1, contact portions 21 and 22 have a direct, vertically-opposed abutting, gripping and wedging action between the under face He and the inclined upper face portion 11b of the base flange 11 to exert a spreading-flexing action between the portions 23 and 1% through the axis of the loop portion 26.

When the tool body 12 is moved towards its final position of FIGURE 1 from its secondary position of FIGURE 3, by alternately striking the loop portion 20 inwardly (see the arrow A of FIGURE 3) and the clamping end portion 13 by a sledge (see the arrow B of FIGURE 3), the contact shoulders 21 and 22 are slightly spread-apart by their sliding-wedging or camming action between the faces 11b and 11a, and the side edge portion lie of the rail base flange 11 is snapped into the latching pocket or recess portion 15. It will be noted that the contacts 21 and 22 provide a tight gripping action on the left-hand portion of the flange 11, while the body 12 is flexed or spread about the loop portions 16 and 2%, and its right-hand portion is moved'about an axis provided by the contact'points 21 and 2.2 (and loop portion 25)), downwardly in sliding engagement with the'inner guide surface 14a of the guide-wedgin portion 14, until a latching engagement is etfected be tween the latching recess 15 and the side edge or end portion 110.

At this time, as shown in FIGURE 1, the anchor device 12, is securely latched on the base flange 11 of the rail 10 by tension forces exerted between the loop portions '16 and 243, as exerted with respect to the portion 20 through the opposed, clamping, rounded shouldercontact points or engaging shoulders 21 and '22. i As also shown in FIGURE 1, the side edge or end portion 11d of the base flange 11 is maintained in a spaced relationship with the inner peripheral surface of slot or eyelet portion 2611. By this construction, I avoid any abrasion, wearing-in or cutting-in action between the side edge portion 11d or its edges with respect to the left-hand loop portion 29 of the device, for example, due to vibration of the rail when trains are running over it. I also avoid any weakining of the strain-bearing loop portion 2% under Wear and tear of usage of the anchor device.

Transverse movement of the bottom flange 11 is re sisted by an inward force exerted by the right hand portion of the device 12 against the side edge portion through body portions 13 and 14 and 19 and, as cenv tered about the strain-bearing loop portions, 16 as an axis. portions 19 and 23, about the strain-bearing loop portion 20 as an axis, and as acting between opposed gripping clamping shoulders or contacts 21 and 22 that lie beyond any end portion of thedevice. This results in a resolution of forces that positively resists canting of the device as well as longitudinal'movement of the rail.

Although in FIGURE 4 I have shown devices'12 of my vice may form an angle of about 25 with the under face 11e of the rail flange 11. The outwardly-offset, rounded loop portion 16 not only gives added strength and flexi bility'to the construction and assures the desired planar or straight-line construction of the bottom length pornon-19, but additionally facilitates the simplified rnethod of mounting and dismounting my device. In .dismounting, the operation may be reversed and if desired, a tool may be used to spread the portions 13 and 14 to facilitate moving the device from the position of FIG- URE 1 to the position of FIGURE 3.

' In my construction, I avoid making the bottom face of the forward portion of the clamping foot 23 the engaging point or surface with the rail flange -11,and in It is opposingly-resisted by the left-hand body this manner, strengthen the holding action and minimize the lever action, since the actual engaging point 22 lies adjacent to the back end of the clamping foot portion 23 and at its area of integral connection with the loop portion 24 The loop portion 20 serves as an immediate flexing axis portion for the left-hand clamping part of the device, while the loop portion 16 serves as a flexing axis portion for the right-hand clamping part. It will be noted that the portions 13 and 14 and 23 represent lever arm portions that are connected to the bottom, longer connecting arm portion 19 by the loop portions 16 and 29. This also gives an increased strength, makes possible a highly increased holding action and substantially eliminates the possibility of failure of any portion of the anchor body 12.

It will be noted that the spreading force exerted on the body 12, longitudinally in the general direction of the arm or bottom length portion 19, by transverse force exerted by the rail flange 11 is only indirectly imparted to the loop portion 29 by a resolution of forces applied between contact points 21 and 22. It will also be noted that the loop portions 16 and 26 have no direct, inside engagement with the rail base flange 1E when the device 12 is in its fully mounted position of FIGURE 1. The loop portions 1t: and 2t! substantially directly oppose each other on a longitudinal plane represented by the arm or bottom length portion 19 which, in the final mounted position of the device of FIGURE 1, is an inclined plane with respect to the rail base flange 11.

One of the problems in employing rail anchors arises where a car of a train is derailed. In such an event, the wheels on one side of the car will drop down along the inside of the rail 14) and tend to ride along the inner portion of its base flange 11, while the wheels along the other side of the car will drop down over the outside of the opposite rail and tend to ride along the outer portion of the rail base flange. I have found that it is desirable in this connection, to avoid providing up per end portions of the closed clamping parts of a rail anchor that are so long or that extend in such a manner that the wheels of a derailed car will tend to drive such end portions into the rail base flange and that, in such an event tend to nick out halfmoon and other breaks in the rail base flange adjacent its side edge or end portions. Any break or failure or nicking along such rail flange edges provides a starting point for growth failure of the rail and as a result, the full length of the rail has to be taken up and replaced. In my construction of rail anchor, a wheel striking the end portion 13 will cause it to flex outwardly and with sufiicient force, may cause it to release its latching action with the rail base flange. Also, a wheel striking the clamping foot portion 2 3 will be resiliently resisted by the inclined shape of such portion tending to force it outwardly and further the releasing action of the anchor with respect to the rail flange.

I have determined that these types of actions avoid damage to the rail base flange, such as would otherwise be caused by the wheels of a derailed car running therealong. This represents a further important advantage of my new and improved rail anchor construction. As will be appreciated, it is a relatively simple matter to replace or remount a rail anchor of my construction, since no Special tools are required. Further, a rail anchor of my construction is relatively inexpensive as compared to a length of rail or to the cost of replacing such a rail.

What I claim is:

1. An improved rail anchor device for secure clamp ing engagement across a base flange of a rail wherein the base flange has an under face and opposed upper faces connected to the under face by side edge portions, said device having a body of substantially uniform section along its length and having a pair of horizontally spacedapart and vertically-positioned opposed clamping parts and a bottom length portion to extend across underneath the rail base flange, said clamping parts comprising a pair of oppositely-positioned inwardly-open loop portions, one of said loop portions being connected to one end of said bottom length portion and the other loop portion being connected to the opposed end of said bottom length portion to define opposite flexing axes for said body at opposite ends of said bottom length portion, one of said clamping parts having a relatively short length clamping foot portion extending inwardly from an upper end of its loop portion to cooperate with one side of the rail base flange, the loop portion of said one clamping part intersecting-said clamping foot portion and said bottom portion to form at the intersections a pair of upper and lower rounded contact shoulders lying on a common plane that is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the rail base flange to clamp-engage the rail base flange and position its adjacent side edge portion in a spaced relation within the loop portion of said one clamping part; the other of said clamping parts having an upwardly-extending inwardly-inclined guidewedging portion connected at its lower end to the loop portion of said other clamping part for guiding an adjacent side edge portion of the rail base flange therealong to flexibly spread said body outwardly, and a latching notch portion in an upper end portion of said other clamping pant to clamp-engage the adjacent side edge portion of the rail base flange adjacent the upper end of said guide-wedging portion and securely clamp the rail base flange between said pair of clamping parts.

2. An improved rail anchor device as defined in claim 1 wherein said clamping foot defines an open inclined clearance spacing with the adjacent upper face of the rail base flange to said upper contact shoulder when said body is in a securely clamped position on the rail base flange.

3. An anchor device as defined in claim 1 wherein, said latching notch portion is defined by top and bottom ledge portions and a back wall portion, said bottom ledge portion is of greater extent than said top ledge portion, and said guide-wedging portion has an inwardlyupwardly sloped substantially planar slide surface for advancing the adjacent side edge portion of the rail base flange therealong from a position within the loop portion of said other clamping part into said latching notch portion by outwardly-spreading said other clamping part about its loop portion as an axis.

4. An improved rail anchor device for secure clamping engagement across a base flange of a rail wherein the base flange has an under face lying on a substantially horizontally plane and has a pair of opposed upper faces eclining outwardly with respect to the horizontal plane and connected to the under face by side edge portions, said device having a forged bar body of substantially uniform rectangular section along its length, said body having a pair or" horizontally spaced-apart and vertically-positioned opposed clamping parts and a substantially straight-length bottom portion to extend across undenneath the rail base flange, said clamping parts comprising a pair. of oppositely-positioned inwardly-open loop portions, one of said loop portions connected to one end of said bottom portion and the other loop portion connected to the opposite end of said bottom portion, said loop portions defining opposite flexing axes for said body at opposite ends of said bottom portion, one of said clamping parts having a downwardly-facing inwardly positioned rounded contact shoulder to cooperate with one side of the rail base flange, the loop portion of said one clamping part also defining an upwardly-facing inwardly positioned rounded contact shoulder with the connecting end of said bottom portion for engaging the under face of the rail base flange, said pair of contact shoulders being positioned to lie on a common plane-which is substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the rail base flange when the anchor is 'in its fully clamped position and being constructed to clamp-engage the rail base flange and position its adjacent side edge portion in a spaced relation Within the loop portion of said one clamping part, the other of said clamping parts having an upwardlyinwardly inclined substantially planar guide-wedging portion connected at its lower end to the loop portion of said other clamping part; the loop portion of said other clamping part being constructed to initially receive an adjacent side edge portion of the rail base flange therein when an extending end of said clamping foot portion is being moved over the adjacent side edge portion of the rail flange towards a position wherein said pair of contact shoulders are in initial engagement between the under face and an opposed inclined upper face of the, rail base flange, an upwardly-projecting clamping end portion connected at its lower end with said guidc-wedging portion of said other clamping part and extending in an outward-angular relation with respect to said guidewedgiug portion, a latching notch portion on the inner face of said other clamping part substantially at the connection between said clamping end portion and said guide-wedging portion, said guide-wedging portion being constructed to engage an adjacent side edge portion of the rail base flange and guide said other clamping part therealong under flexible-outward spread of said other clamping part, when said other clamping part is moved vertically-downwardly with respect to the rail base flange and until the adjacent'side edge portion thereof snaps into position within said latching notch portion, and said other latching part being constructed to advance said pair or" contact shoulder portions along the rail base flange from an' adjacent side edge portion into tight clamping engagement when said 'guide-wedging portion is being moved along the opposite side edge of the rail flange into said latching notch portion. j

5. An improved rail anchor'device for secure clamping engagement acrossqa base flange of a rail, said device having an elongated body of substantially uniform crosssection, said body having a substantially straightdength arm portion, a first inwardly facing loop portion that is connected at one end to one end of said arm portion where it forms an upwardly-facing rounded contact shoulder, an inwardly-upwardly inclined clam-ping foot portion that is connected to the other end of said first loop portion where it forms a downwardly-facing rounded contact shoulder, said upwardly-facing and downwardly ing portion connected at one end to the other end of said second loop portion, an upwardly-outwardly-inclined clamping end portion connected to the other end of said guide wedging portion, and an inwardly-facing latching recess portion formed adjacent the connection between said clamping end portion and said guide wedgi-ng portion.

6. An improved rail anchor device as defined in claim 4'Wherein, said latching notch portion is defined by top and bottom, generally horizontally-extending ledge portions and a generally vertically extending back Wall portion, saidvbottom ledge portion being of greater horizontal extent than said top ledge portion. V

7. An improved rail anchor device as defined in claim 5 wherein said latching recess portion is defined by top and bottom generally horizontally-extending ledge portions 'anda generally vertically extending back Wall portion, said bottom ledge portion being of greater horizontal extent than said top ledge portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent Rigby a s 'Sept. 27, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3 l59 347 December l 1964 John H, Neely It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3 line 15 for 'slight read sliding line 29 for "SW/ read 5V column 6 line 49 for "horizontally" read horizontal Signed and sealed this 27th day of April 1965!,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER A-ttesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. AN IMPROVED RAIL ANCHOR DEVICE FOR SECURE CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT ACROSS A BASE FLANGE OF A RAIL WHEREIN THE BASE FLANGE HAS AN UNDER FACE AND OPPOSED UPPER FACES CONNECTED TO THE UNDER FACE BY SIDE EDGE PORTIONS, SAID DEVICE HAVING A BODY OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM SECTION ALONG ITS LENGTH AND HAVING A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY SPACEDAPART AND VERTICALLY-POSITIONED OPPOSED CLAMPING PARTS AND A BOTTOM LENGTH PORTION TO EXTEND ACROSS UNDERNEATH THE RAIL BASE FLANGE, SAID CLAMPING PARTS COMPRISING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY-POSITIONED INWARDLY-OPEN LOOP PORTIONS, ONE OF SAID LOOP PORTIONS BEING CONNECTED TO ONE END OF SAID BOTTOM LENGTH PORTION AND THE OTHER LOOP PORTION BEING CONNECTED TO THE OPPOSED END OF SAID BOTTOM LENGTH PORTION TO DEFINE OPPOSITE FLEXING AXES FOR SAID BODY AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BOTTOM LENGTH PORTION, ONE OF SAID CLAMPING PARTS HAVING A RELATIVELY SHORT LENGTH CLAMPING FOOT PORTION EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM AN UPPER END OF ITS LOOP PORTION TO COOPERATE WITH ONE SAID OF THE RAIL BASE FLANGE, THE LOOP PORTION OF SAID ONE CLAMPING PART INTERSECTING SAID CLAMPING FOOT PORTION AND SAID BOTTOM PORTION TO FORM AT THE INTERSECTIONS A PAIR OF UPPER AND LOWER ROUNDED CONTACT SHOULDERS LYING ON A COMMON PLANE THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO A HORIZONTAL PLANE OF THE RAIL BASE FLANGE TO CLAMP-ENGAGE THE RAIL BASE FLANGE AND POSITION ITS ADJACENT SIDE EDGE PORTION IN A SPACED RELATION WITHIN THE LOOP PORTION OF SAID ONE CLAMPING PART; THE OTHER OF SAID CLAMPING PARTS HAVING AN UPWARDLY-EXTENDING INWARDLY-INCLINED GUIDEWEDGING PORTION CONNECTED AT ITS LOWER END TO THE LOOP PORTION OF SAID OTHER CLAMPING PART FOR GUIDING AN ADJACENT SIDE EDGE PORTION OF THE RAIL BASE FLANGE THEREALONG TO FLEXIBLY SPREAD SAID BODY OUTWARDLY, AND A LATCHING NOTCH PORTION IN AN UPPER END PORTION OF SAID OTHER CLAMPING PART TO CLAMP-ENGAGE THE ADJACENT SIDE EDGE PORTION OF THE RAIL BASE FLANGE ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID GUIDE-WEDGING PORTION AND SECURELY CLAMP THE RAIL BASE FLANGE BETWEEN SAID PAIR OF CLAMPING PARTS. 